Handbook for the Officers of the HOSPITALLER ORDER of SAINT JOHN of JERUSALEM, KNIGHTS HOSPITALLER As Approved by the Sovereign Council of the Order

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Handbook for the Officers of the HOSPITALLER ORDER of SAINT JOHN of JERUSALEM, KNIGHTS HOSPITALLER As Approved by the Sovereign Council of the Order Official Handbook for the Officers Of the HOSPITALLER ORDER OF SAINT JOHN OF JERUSALEM, KNIGHTS HOSPITALLER As approved by the Sovereign Council of the Order Copyright 1995 Palace of Saint John Alamos, Sonora, Mexico This Handbook is Dedicated to the memory of His late Majesty King Peter II, Royal Head of the Order, Whose sense of chivalry led to the Order’s renewal, And Prince Grand Master Robert Sanguszko-Formhals, Whose sense of dedication preserved it. Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem Prince Grand Master (Letterhead) Officers of the Order, Herewith is presented to you the Official Handbook to be used by all Officers of our Order. It is the duty of every one of you to read through it, to familiarize yourselves with its contents, and to use it. Many years have gone into its formulation. It was initially envisioned by King Peter II, planned and begun by our late Prince Grand Master Sanguszko-Formhals, and brought to fruition in my reign. The Handbook contains the distillation of the Order’s Constitution, Statues, Regulations, and policies in a manner more convenient than having to refer back to the original documents. Its contents have been formally approved by the Sovereign Council, and it is the official policy on all matters which it covers. The purpose of the Handbook is threefold. Firstly, it is to instruct all of the Officers of the Order worldwide on the Order, its organization, and its practices. Secondly, it is to help each of you keep the members of the Order under your jurisdiction informed on both matters of general policy and the details of procedures. Thirdly, and most importantly, it is to establish a uniform operation of the Order throughout the world. In the past too many problems and misunderstandings have occurred at all levels because of a want of knowledge on the proper policies and procedures of the Order. With the publication of this Handbook, each Officer is responsible for knowing and following the correct procedures. The Handbook is arranged in a format that will allow for it to be updated and revised from time to time. At the present only the first four parts of it have been completed. As more are finished, or as further refinements are made in the already completed sections, these will be sent to you so that your copy of the Handbook will always remain current. Although many persons over the years have been involved in the creation of this Handbook, as with anything made by man, there is bound to be an occasional error, omission, or confusion. Should such come to your attention, I ask that you immediately make me aware of it, so that it might be corrected. I wish to express my thanks in a collective manner to all who have participated in the creation of this Handbook, most especially the members of the Sovereign Council who had to review it in detail. As successful an undertaking as its production was, its effectiveness can only be measured by the use to which it is put. Therefore, I enjoin every one of you to make the best use you can of it, to use it often; and to hereby to make the improved functioning of out Order a reflection of its success. I am pleased to remain, as ever, Your Brother in Christ and Saint John, (signed – Flachslander) The Prince Grand master Feast of the Finding of the Head of Saint John Palace of Saint John TABLE OF CONTENTS Part I. The Order and Chivalric Status. I.A. DEFINITION OF THE HOSPITALLER ORDER OF SAINT JOHN. I.B. OBLIGATION OF MEMBERSHIP IN THE ORDER. I.C. A SHORT HISTORY OF THE ORDER. Part II. Government, Organization, and Offices of the Order. II.A. THE GEOGRAPHICAL JURSIDICTIONS OF THE ORDER II.A.1. The Central Administration. II.A.2. The Grand Priory. II.A.3. The Priory. II.A.4. The Bailiwick. II.A.5. The Commandery. II.A.6. The Castellany or Chapter. II.B. THE CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE ORDER, ITS OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES. II.C. DEPARTMENTS OF THE CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION II.C.1. Department of the Grand Commander. II.C.2. Grand Chancellery of the Order. II.C.3. Department of the Grand Marshal: the Heraldic Administration. II.C.4. Department of the Grand Receiver of the Common Treasure. II.D. THE GRAND PRIORAL ADMINISTRATION, ITS OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES. II.E. THE COMMANDERY GOVERNMENT, ITS OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES. II.F. THE ANNUAL REPORT. Part III. Regulations and procedures. III.A. MEMBERSHIP III.A.1. Qualifications. III.A.2. Ineligibility for Membership. III.A.3. Classes and Grades. III.A.4. Categories. III.A.5. Inactive Membership. III.A.6. Resignation from the Order. III.A.7. Expulsion form the Order. III.A.8. Readmission to the Order. III.B. ADMISSION PROCEDURES. III.B.1. Approach Form. III.B.2. The Petition for Membership. III.C. INSIGNIA. III.C.1. The Components of the Order’s Insignia. III.C.2. The Wearing of the Order’s Insignia by Rank. III.C.3. Procedure for Ordering Insignia in Anticipation of Investitures and Promotions. III.C.4. Regulations on the Wearing of Insignia, Medals, and Decorations by Members of the Order. III.D. DRESS REGULATIONS. III.D.1. Full Dress. III.D.2. Evening Dress. III.D.3. Day Dress. III.E. PERSONAL ARMS AND ARMS OF OFFICE. III.E.1. The Personal Arms of Members of the Order. III.E.2. Display of Personal Arms by Members of the Sovereign Council. III.E.3. Display of Personal Arms by Members of the Order. III.F. FORMS OF ADDRESS. III.F.1. The Prince Grand master. III.F.2. Bailiffs Grand Cross. III.F.3. Knight Commanders and Dame Commanders. III.F.4. Knights and Dames. III.F.5. Religious and Members of the Clergy. III.F.6. Other Ranks. III.F.7. Spouses. III.F.8. Titles of Nobility. III.F.9. Other Titles and Post Nominals. III.F.10. Correspondence. III.G. STATIONARY. III.G.1. The Central Administration and the Grand Priories. III.G.2. The Commanderies. III.H. PASSAGE FEES, ANNUAL OBLATIONS, AND COMMANDERY DUES. III.H.1. The Admission Fee. III.H.2. The Passage Fee. III.H.3. The Annual Oblations. III.H.4. Commandery Dues. III.I. CAPES. III.J. TIME IN GRADE. III.K. WILLS, TRUSTS, AND BEQUESTS TO THE ORDER. Part IV. Finances. IV.A. PROCEDURES. IV.B. FUND MANAGEMENT. IV.B.1. The Permanent Fund. IV.B.2. The Special Purpose Funds. IV.B.3. The General Operating Fund. IV.C. INVESTMENT POLICY. IV.C.1. The Operating Funds. IV.C.2. The Permanent Funds. Part V. Investitures. Part VI. Other Order Ceremonies. Part VII. The Programs of the Order. Part I - THE ORDER AND CHIVALRIC STATUS I.A. DEFFINTION FO THE HOSPITALLER ORDER OF SAINT JOHN OF JERUSALEM The Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, also known as the Knights Hospitallers, is an international Order of Chivalry. It is both a religious and a military Order, possessing a hierarchical rather than a democratic organization, with historic and spiritual links going back to the original hospice founded in Jerusalem by the Blessed Gerald, and dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. It was granted a Royal Charter by King Peter II of Yugoslavia in 1965, and presently operates under the Constitution which his late Majesty, in his capacity as Royal Head of the Order, th sanctioned on the 28 of December 1968. In addition, the Order also enjoys a Charter granted to it by King Ernst August of Hanover, who served as its Grand Master form 1807 until his death in 1851. It is not, and makes no claims to be, a part of the Orders of Saint John that are chartered by other national Sovereigns. It exercises its chivalric responsibilities through the fons honorum of the Crown of Yugoslavia, which responsibilities include the creation of valid Knights, Dames, Chaplains, Companions, and other grades of Members. Membership is by invitation only, and it is open to declared Christians of any denomination. The Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem is a confraternity of Christian men and women who have dedicated themselves to helping mankind through the implementation of the Order’s two great mottoes: PRO FIDE and PRO ULTITATE HOMINUM. By upholding the ethical and religious standards of Christian Chivalry, it is committed to the encouragement of all that makes for the moral and spiritual strengthening of mankind. It also encourages and promotes works of charity and humanity for the relief of persons in sickness, distress, suffering, and danger, without distinction as to race, color, creed, or national origin. The Order operates its own charitable programs, and contributes to other worthy charities on the local, national, and international levels, wherever in the world it feels that it can be of assistance. In addition to these many activities, the main area of concern for the Order remains helping those suffering form Alzheimer’s Disease. I.B. OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERSHIP IN THE ORDER A true knight is a servant of God and of the poor. He is the apostle of good deeds, of a life full of duties to be performed, tasks to be executed, wrongs to be rectified, and all this for the purpose of improving his fellow men. - Chivalry , Volume II, Number 1 Membership in the Order of Saint John is not an undertaking to be entered upon lightly, for it entails an obligation and a commitment that binds every one of us by a chain of honor and devotion for the rest of our lives.
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